Biography
Character actress Shera Danese specialized in bit parts, initially ones of a slightly sultry nature. She landed one of her earliest big-screen roles as one of saxophone player Jimmy Doyle's (
Robert De Niro) girlfriends in
Martin Scorsese's revisionist musical New York, New York (1977), then drew attention away from
Rebecca De Mornay as one of two prostitutes who accompany a high-school senior (
Tom Cruise) out for a wild evening on the town, in
Paul Brickman's satire on teen angst,
Risky Business (1983). Subsequent projects included the 1987
Baby Boom (as a cloak room attendant), the 2002 John Q., and the 2006
Alpha Dog. Danese also appeared in numerous
Columbo telemovies opposite longtime off-camera husband
Peter Falk. ~ Nathan Southern, All Movie Guide